Bricks and Ballast Rocks

[DandyDon]

All,

The wreck were diving has a lot of red colored bricks all over the place, some under the deck planking, in the debris field and on top of the deck boards. At first we thought that they were from the firebox of a boiler, however since we can't find any remains of a boiler, were a bit stumped again as to what there purpose was. Could they have been used as ballast?

Photos below for your preview - pls note the bright Orange color as we turned them over to identify what they were.

DD

 

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[Salvor6]

It looks like the bricks were being transported as cargo. Is there (or was there) a brick factory in your area?

 

[ivan salis]

bricks were used as duel purpose ballast / cargo --- why carry rock when bricks could be sold?

 

[ScubaDude]

I've dove wrecks that were similar with fire brick and no boiler (they were steam powered). If it was steam powered there would still be some large iron pieces somewhere nearby. Unless of course someone pillaged it prior to your arrival.

 

[ScubaDude]

How many bricks are we talking about? They have also been used as stoves.

 

[DandyDon]

Hundreds of bricks is my best guess, on and under the lower deck planking. In other debris piles and scattered around the wreck site.

DD

 

[SimonLakeSub]

The transportation of bricks was a very big industry here in New York State, during the 19th century. Many brick producing factories were located in the mid Hudson valley, then transported down the Hudson River by ships and barges, making many stops along the way to the small towns and cities.

Simon.....

 

[DandyDon]

I've dove wrecks that were similar with fire brick and no boiler (they were steam powered). If it was steam powered there would still be some large iron pieces somewhere nearby. Unless of course someone pillaged it prior to your arrival.

Yes, we did find some large pieces of iron, solid rod about 1 1/5 in dia, some flat bar or sheets that look fracture and a couple pieces of copper tubing the last dive we did - will add a few more pics this week end.

Don

 

[DandyDon]

Re: Steam Ships - Bricks and Ballast Rocks

Scuba Dude,

Would a steam ship use lead gaskets between its pipes connections? Reason I ask is that I have two of them that are about 9 inches across and have about 3/4 inch bolt holes. Will try to post them later today.

VR,

DD

 

[DandyDon]

Re: Steam Ships, Bricks and Ballast Rocks

All,

Below are the pictures of the lead gaskets and bricks, pls note brick is very heavy and not made of the standard clay material. The brick is 8 inches long, 4 in wide and 2 inches thick and I believe it is made of sandstone. The lead gasket gasket is 8 inches in diamenter not 9 as previously thought, bolt holes are 7/8 inches. I also found some copper pipe while I was diving also and its 1.5 inches in Dia.

DD

 

[ScubaDude]

Your gasket was paired with a pretty hefty flange. It likely came from some sort of high pressure fitting.

 

[DandyDon]

Actually its just a mineral deposit in the stone itself. If you were to touch it, it feels slick and the rest of the brick is rough like sandpaper.

DD

 

[DandyDon]

Dell,

Thanks for the info -

DD

 

[ivan salis]

ah with the lead gasket and one sided slick brick -- its a steamer for sure . --- nice work figgering out the type of vessel--- from her type a rough age can be figgered out --then check up on maritime insurance / loss claim records from that rough time frame / in the area lost at --- the list might help ID her for you as well as the cargo carried